Twelve way pay poker

ABSTRACT

The method of the present invention is a 12 hand poker game the uses 5 single 52 card decks to form a 25 card grid which allows for any or all of the cards to be held independently of the other cards by use of the current touch screen technology or by using buttons on the door panel. All winning combinations are awarded by a predetermined pay table

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/212,122 filed Apr. 8, 2009 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates directly to electronic video poker machines which allow the player to discard unwanted cards and then draw replacement cards to achieve winning combinations of hands according to a predetermined pay table. One of the major limitations of current poker games is that they only pay in one direction, as with the Triple Play, Five Play, Fifty Play and Hundred Play. Even though the player is playing multiple hands, they still only pay across. The method of the present invention corrects that limitation. Also, cards held in the original dealt hand, are held for all subsequent hands. In the method of the present invention, any number of cards can be held in hands 1-5 across, and those cards are also held in hands 6-10 down, and 11-12 diagonal. This allows for a much greater possibility of winning combinations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method of the present invention allows the player to play up to 12 hands of poker per game, attempting to achieve high ranking hands across, down, and diagonal which pay according to a predetermined pay table. The present invention has 5 hands across, and each of those hands uses its own separate 52 card deck. When all 5 hands are dealt, they form a 25 card grid that play 5 hands across, 5 hands down, and 2 hands diagonal. Since 5 separate decks are being used, there are 2 new winning combinations that can occur on the hands down (6-10), and diagonal (11-12). They are a 5 of a kind flush (5 Aces of Spades, 5 Four of Hearts, etc), and a Full House flush, (3 Tens of Hearts and 2 Eight of Hearts, etc). These new winning combinations will be factored into the predetermined pay table. There are also two variations of play for the present invention. Variation 1 is all 25 cards are dealt and drawn from a single deck. In this variation, the 5 of a kind flush and Full House Flush are not possible to hit and therefore not factored into this pay table. Variation 2 is to award progressive awards for multiple Royal Flushes. Also, since the present invention uses five 52 card decks, the player has the potential of hitting 11 Royal Flushes with 5 Aces on the diagonal. An additional benefit of the present invention would be an auto hold feature that could be enabled or disabled by the player. If enabled, it would show the player the best cards to hold for all wagered hands. If declined, the player would then make their own decision on cards held, then draw. If the desired cards were not drawn, another feature could allow for a redraw. This would allow the player to match their wager for the original hand. The redraw would keep all of the held cards and allow the player to try to improve on their hand by giving them a second draw. The redraw would only be allowed once per original dealt hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the initial deal and the possible winning combinations. For this description, it is assumed all 12 hands have been wagered on. Hand 1 shows no initial winning possibility. Hand 2 shows no initial winning possibility. Hand 3 has 2 pair, Fives and Queens. Hand 4 has a possible flush in Clubs. Hand 5 has a possible flush in Hearts. Hand 6 has a pair of Queens or possible Club flush. Hand 7 has a pair of Sixes. Hand 8 has a pair of Eights. Hand 9 has a pair of Fives. Hand 10 has a possible Straight. Hand 11 has a Full House showing, or a possible Full House flush. Hand 12 has no initial winning possibility.

FIG. 2 shows cards held with an explanation of why said cards were held. Hand 1, Card 1, the Nine of Clubs was held for a possible Full House flush on Hand 11 diagonal. Card 5, the King of Diamonds, was held for a possible Straight on Hand 10 down. Hand 2, Card 2, the Nine of Clubs, was held for a possible Full House flush on Hand 11 diagonal. Hand 3, Card 1, the Queen of Hearts, was held for 2 pair in Hand 3 and a pair of Queens in Hand 6 down. Hand 3, Card 2, the Five of Diamonds, was held for 2 pair in Hand 3. Hand 3, Card 3, the Eight of Clubs held for possible Full House flush for Hand 11 diagonal. Hand 3, Card 4, the Five of Hearts, held for 2 pair Hand 3. Hand 3, Card 5, the Queen of Spades, held for 2 pair Hand 3. Hand 4, Card 1, the Queen of Clubs, held for possible flush Hand 4, and pair of Queens Hand 6 down. Hand 4, Card 2, the King of Clubs, held for possible flush Hand 4 and pair of Kings hand 12 diagonal. Hand 4, Card 4, the Eight of Clubs, held for possible flush Hand 4 and possible Full House flush Hand 11 diagonal. Hand 4, Card 5, the Ten of Clubs, held for possible flush Hand 4 and possible straight Hand 10 down. Hand 5 has no cards held.

FIG. 3 shows replacement cards drawn for Hands 1-5 and any resulting winning combinations. Hand 1 across has no winning combination. Hand 2 across has 2 pair, Jacks and Deuces. Hand 3 across has 2 pair, Queens and Fives. Hand 4 across has a Club flush. Hand 5 across has no winning combination. Hand 6 down has a pair of Queens. Hand 7 down has no winning combination. Hand 8 down has no winning combination. Hand 9 down has no winning combination. Hand 10 down has a Straight (unsuited). Hand 11 diagonal has a Full House flush. Hand 12 diagonal has a pair of Kings.

FIG. 4 is the layout of the front of the machine, showing the card grid on the monitor and the button panel used in game play.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method of play whereby an electronic video poker machine is programmed to display a 25 card grid of 5 hands across. Each hand is dealt from its own separate 52 card deck. When all 5 hands are dealt, not only do they play across, but also form 5 hands going down, and 2 hands diagonal. This gives a total of 12 hands that can be wagered on. The player has the option of how many hands to play and how many credits to wager per hand. After the player has determined the number of hands to play and the number of credits per hand, the player initiates the game by depressing the Deal button, but if the player plays maximum bet, they receive all 12 hands at 5 credits per hand. At this time 5 cards are dealt from each independent deck on all 5 hands. The player now has Hands 1-5 across, Hands 6-10 down, Hand 11 is diagonal from upper left of Hand 1, Card 1, through Hand 2, Card 2, Hand 3, Card 3, Hand 4, Card 4, Hand 5, Card 5. Hand 12 is diagonal from lower left Hand 5, Card 1 through Hand 4, Card 2, Hand 3, Card 3, Hand 2, Card 4, Hand 1, Card 5. After the initial deal, the player now decides on which cards to hold. Cards held in Hands 1-5 across, would also be held in Hands 6-10 down, and Hands 11 and 12 diagonal. For example, a card held in Hand 1, Card 5, would also be held in Hand 10 down and Hand 12 diagonal. A card held in Hand 3, Card 3, would also be held in Hand 8 down and Hands 11 and 12 diagonal. Cards are held by use of the touch screen, or by using the buttons on the front of the door panel, which consists of 2 rows of 5 buttons each. Row 1 represents the 5 rows of cards across. Row 2 represents the card number in that hand. Row 1, button 2 would designate Hand 2. Row 2, button 3 would then hold Card 3 in Hand 2, which would also be held in Hand 8. After the player has held all of the desired cards, they would then select Draw to discard the cards which were not held, and receive replacement cards from Hands 1-5 across, filling vacant positions left by the discarded cards starting from the left of the hand and occupying the empty spots left to right until all previously empty spots are filled. After the draw, the player is awarded for any winning combination on all wagered hands across, down and diagonal, according to a predetermined pay table and the game is over. 

1. A method of playing an electronic video poker machine in which; (a.) the player has the option of wagering on 1-12 hands at 1-5 credits per hand; (b.) depending on the number of hands wagered on, the player can have winning combinations across, down, and diagonal; (c.) hands 1-5 across are each dealt from their own separate 52 card deck; (d.) cards held in Hands 1-5 would also be held in Hands 6-10 down, and 11-12 diagonal; (e.) any number of cards can be held, and any discarded cards will be replaced from that hands original deck; (f.) on the initial deal, if all 12 hands are played, Hands 1-5 would deal 5 cards across from each hands separate deck which would form a 25 card grid with 5 playable hands across, 5 playable hands down, and 2 playable hands diagonal; (g.) the player would then hold the desired cards and draw replacement cards; (h.) any resulting winning combinations would be awarded according to a predetermined pay table and the game would be over.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which the pay table awards consist of: (a.) Royal Flush; (b.) Straight Flush; (c.) 5 of a kind Flush; (d.) Full House Flush; (e.) 5 of a kind; (f.) 4 of a kind; (g.) Full House; (h.) Flush; (i.) Straight; (j.) 3 of a kind; (k.) 2 pair; (l.) Pair of Jacks or better (optional).
 3. The method of claim 2 will pay the player in accordance with a predetermined pay table of said awards:
 4. After all winning combinations are awarded, the game is over. 